Rotary brush



Nov. 20, 1951 G. T. MEYER ETAL ROTARY BRUSH Filed April '4, 1945 3Sheets-Sheet l G. T. MEYER ET AL Nov. 20, 1951 ROTARY BRUSH 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 4, 1945 her I! #59" aa Nov. 20, 1951 G. T.MEYER ET AL 2,575,635

ROTARY BRUSH Filed April 4, 1945 3 Sheet's-Sheet 3 if?! /62 2 fax": 6601e Zi/y' gel" A7147 tto 02* e7" Patented Nov. 20, 1951 ROTARY BRUSHGeorge '1. Meyer and Otto Dreher, Milwaukee, Wis., assignors to Geo. J.Meyer Manufacturing 00., Cudahy, Wis.

Application April 4, 1945, Serial No. 586,502

6 Claims.

This invention relates to brushes and more particularly to a rotarybrush for use on bottle washing machines or the like.

Heretofore the brushes for bottle washing machines have been madecylindrical with an axial hole therethrough to receive the shaft. Inorder to replace a brush it was necessary to remove the shaft on whichthe brush was mounted and to place a new brush on the shaft andreassemble the machine. This operation took considerable time andnecessitated a complete stoppage of the machine. It furthermore requiredthe replacement of an entire brush of considerable length regardless ofwhat portion was worn out or damaged.

One object of the present invention is to provide a rotary brush forbottle washing machines which can be replaced without removing the shafton which the brush is mounted.

I Another object is to provide a rotary bottle brush which may be builtup to any width to accommodate different widths of machines.

Another object is to provide a rotary brush for bottle washing machinesor the like which will permit replacement of a WOIIl section of brush.

Still another object is to simplify the construction of rotary bottlebrushes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a segmental rotarybottle brush which will rotate with the shaft on which it is mounted.

Other objects will become apparent upon considering the followingspecification which, when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, illustrate preferred forms of the invention.

In its broad aspect the invention comprises a cylindrical brush formedof a plurality of segmental sections, means to secure the sectionstogether on a shaft to form the cylindrical brush, and means to effectrotation of the brush with the shaft.

In the drawings:

' Fig. 1 is an elevational View of a complete cylindrical bottle brushembodying the present invention assembled on a drive shaft;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view in crosssection of the endsection of the brush shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section similar to Fig. 4 showing a modification ofthe invention;

Fig. 6 is a view showing the two segments of the brush stock with thedovetail joints being engaged; g

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of a brush elemen used in the rotarybottle brush shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of an alternate brush construction;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of two of the sections shown in Fig. 9,showing the method of connecting the sections;

Fig. 11 is an end view of the male endof a section shown in Fig. 9, andis a view on the line ll-Il of Fig. 10 looking in the direction of thearrows;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Figzll, but showing the female end of asection, and is a view on the line l2--l2 of Fig. 10 looking in thedirection of the arrows; and 5 Fig. 13 is a cross-section on the line I3l3 of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive,the fragment of the bottle Washing machine shown has a frame with anopening covered by a plate 20. The plate 20'has a bearing 2| mountedtherein which receivesthe cylindrical end 23 of a polygonal shaft 25.

The shaft 25 is driven by a gear 26 mounted on the outer end of thecylindrical portion 23 thereof.

The opposite end of the shaft 25 likewise has a cylindrical portionmounted in a bearing-simila to the bearing 2| shown.

The brush is formed on a cylindrical stock 30 which is split into aplurality, normally two, of segments 3l-3l which are connected togetherby dovetail joints 33-33. The stock 3llhas -a polygonal aperture 35therethrough which corresponds with the polygonal shaft 25, the shaftforming the driving means for the brush.

The brush sections are formed with a plu rality of dovetail slots 40running axially of the segments, the slots receiving brush sections '42;mounted in metallic strips 43.

The length of the brush sections is determined by the diameter of thebottle or other article to be cleaned, the section being long enough toaccomplish the brushing. t

Spacer sections 45 are formed-of segments joined by dovetail jointssimilar to the dovetail joints 33 and are formed cylindrical, withoutthebrush receiving slots which are formed in the brush sections and have anoutside diameter substantially equal to the brush stock. The spacers 45are formed of convenient length to effect correct spacing for the brushsections, and serve the dual purpose of spacing and retaining the brushelements 42 secured in the brush sections 38.

The end sections 48 are made with cylindrical apertures of sufiicientdiameter to permit the sections to slideover the bearings and allow thesections 30 and spacers 45 to be spaced apart to permita brush sectionto be disassembled and replaced.

In order to permit the end section 48 to rotate with the remainder ofthe brush sections 30 the spacer 50 adjacent the section 48 is providedwith dovetail slots mating with the slots 46 while the end brushsections extend across the two end sections and the intermediate spacer50.

Fig. shows a modification of the invention in which a cylindrical shaft55 is provided with a pair of spline grooves which are engaged by a key56 formed on the interior of a circular aperture in the brush section totransmit rotation from the shaft to the brush section.

Referring now to Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive, which Show a furthermodification, the brush is shown as comprising a pair of end sections 60and 6| secured against rotation on a cylindrical shaft 62 by atransverse bolt or other suitable means, and a plurality of intermediatesections 65.

Each of the sections 68, 61 and 65 is composed of a plurality ofsegments (preferably two) 67 and 68, as best seen in Figs. 11, 12 and13, having 4 merely as preferred embodiments thereof and that variouschanges in size, shape and arrangement of parts may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoinedclaims.

That which is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patentis:

an axial aperture 69 therethrough to receive the shaft 62. Each segmentis provided with mating portions of a pair of dovetail joints H! whichengage each other to secure the segments together into a cylindricalbrush.

The ends of the intermediate sections 65 are provided at one end thereofwith a plurality of tongues 72 which engage a plurality of grooves 13 inadjacent sections 85, as best seen in Fig. 10.

One end section is provided with a plurality of grooves on the insideend thereof which engage the tongues 12 of the adjacent section whilethe other end section 6! is provided with a plurality of tongues 12which engage the corresponding grooves in the adjacent section 65. Thetongue and groove joints thus formed transmit rotation from the endsections 59 and 6! to the intermediate sections 65 and from oneintermediate section 65 to the adjacent section 65. Nuts "IL-M may beused on the shaft to hold the sections assembled and insure the tonguesand grooves remaining engaged.

Bristles 75 either may be: sewed into apertures '16 in the segments, or,if the segments are made of plastics such as Bakelite, the bristles maybe molded in place.

Operation In operation the end section 4a 5e is assembled on the shaft25 and the brush elements 42 inserted therein. Alternate brush sections39. with the brush elements in place in the dovetail slots 40, andspacers 45 are then assembled on the shaft opposite the articles such asbottles ll which are to be brushed.

In the event a bottle breaks and cuts a brush element 42 the cover 20 isremoved from the frame, permitting the bearing 2! to be withdrawn. Whenthe bearing is withdrawn, the sections 30 can be separated and thedamaged section replaced.

It will be realized that the hereinbef'ore described forms of theinvention are to be taken l. A rotary bottle brush of the characterdescribed comprising, a rotary shaft, a plurality of cylindrical brushsections mounted on said shaft, bristles mounted about the periphery ofsaid sections, each section comprising a plurality of segments, meansextending parallel to said shaft formed on one of said segmentsengageable with another segment to hold the segments in assembledposition on said shaft, and means to transmit rotation from said shaftto said sections.

2. A rotary bottle brush of the character described comprising, a rotaryshaft, said shaft having a polygonal portion, a plurality of brushsections mounted on the polygonal portion of said shaft, bristlescarried by and extending radially outward from said sections, each of 7said brush sections comprising a pair of segmental parts, which whenassembled have a polygonal hole therethrough corresponding to saidpolygonal shaft, and a pair of dovetail joints on said segmental partsextending parallel to the axis of said shaft engageable with each otherto retain said segments assembled on said shaft.

3. A rotary brush of the character described comprising a shaft, aplurality of brush sections mounted on said shaft to turn therewith, aplurality of dovetail slots in the periphery of said brush sectionsextending parallel to the shaft. a brush back engageable in each of saidslots, and a spacer between the brush sections adapted to hold the brushsections in spaced relationship and retain the brush backs in the slots.

4. A rotary bottle brush of the character described comprising a shaft,a plurality of brush sections mounted on said shaft, an intermediatebrush section, bristles caried by said brush sections, said intermediatebrush section comprising two semi-cylindrical segments adapted to bemounted on the shaft between the other said sections without removingthe said other sections from the shaft, and dovetail joints formed onthe mating surfaces of the segments, said joints engaging with eachother to secure the section on the shaft.

5. A rotary bottle brush of the character described comprising a shaft,a plurality of brush sections mounted on said shaft, an intermediatebrush section, bristles carried by said brush sections, saidintermediate brush section comprisin two semi-cylindrical segmentsadapted to be mounted on the shaft between the other said sectionswithout removing the said other sections from the shaft, dovetail jointsformed on the mating surfaces of the segments, said joints engaging witheach 'other to secure the section on the shaft, and means to transmitrotation from the shaft to each of said sections.

6. A rotary bottle brush of the character described comprising apolygonal shaft, a plurality of brush sections having polygonalapertures axially therethrough mounted on said shaft, an intermediatebrush section comprising two semicylindrical segments having whenassembled, a polygonal opening axially therethrough adapted to fit oversaid shaft, said last named section being insertable on and removablefrom the shaft without removing other sections from the 5 shaft, anddovetail joints formed on the two Number mating surfaces of thesegments, said joints being 776,798 slidably engageable to secure thesection on the I 991,876 shaft. 1,308,195 GEORGE T. MEYER. 5 1,597,997OTTO DREHER. 1,928,066 REFERENCES CITED 333%: The following referencesare of record in the 2205195 file of this patent: m 2:256:983 UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,372,933

Number Name Date 619,134 Campbell Feb. 7, 1899 6 Name Date Perkins Dec.6, 1904 Murray May 9, 1911 Rude July 1, 1919 Nielson Aug. 31, 1926Mancuso et a1 Sept 26, 1933 Wynne Nov. '7, 1933 Keltie May 7, 1940I-Iammon June 18, 1940 Lecker Sept. 23, 1941 Caldwell Apr. 3, 1945

